I Pray You Enough...

When spoken, this prayer means that you want the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.

I pray you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.

I pray you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I pray you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I pray you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

I pray you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I pray you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I pray you enough 'Hellos' to get you through the final good-bye.

Assignment Five: Tools of The Trade

Assignment 5:
What are the Tools of the trade?
What do they represent?
How do you consecrate the tools?
The length of this report dos not matter, what matters is that you find the information to write a report.
To Turn in your assignment e-mail it to: thecupwa@yahoo.com
The Assignments are extra credit to 1st degree students. Everyone is welcome to do them because they are important to the craft.

Have a great Friday!

Dandelion Blossom Syrup

INGREDIENTS:

250 dandelion flower heads (just the yellow petals)
1 lemon
4 cups of water
2 lbs. of sugar

Put 250 dandelion flower heads in a large kettle.

Squeeze the juice of one lemon into the kettle.

Add 4 cups of water.

Bring to a boil, cover kettle, and simmer for one hour.

Remove from heat and leave the kettle covered overnight.

Strain the dandelion mixture.

Add 2 lbs of sugar to the remaining liquid.

Boil for one and a half hours to a syrup consistency.

Store in a tightly sealed jar in the refrigerator.

This syrup is wonderful for pancakes, an ice cream topping or on top of fruit (especially frozen).

Adar Llwch Gwin

According to Celtic Tradition, the Adar Llwch Gwin were giant birds, similar in kind to the Griffin, which were given to a warrior named Drudwas ap Tryffin by his faery wife. The name derives from the Welsh words llwch (dust) and gwin (wine). The birds were said to understand human speech and to obey whatever command was given to them by their master. However, on one occasion, when Drudwas was about to do battle with the hero Arthur, he commanded them to kill the first man to enter the battle. Arthur himself was delayed and the birds immediately turned on Drudwas and tore him to pieces. Later, in medieval Welsh Poetry, the phrase “Adar Llwch Gwin” came to describe hawks, falcons or brave men.

Chicory

These are the wonderful stalky blue cornflowers I see coming up in July just as it gets too hot and dry to mow.

PARTS USED- roots, leaves, flowers, stems.

ROOTS- roasted and ground up: used as a coffee substitute or additive. No Caffeine.

LEAVES- leafy greens can be used in salads. Blanch young leaves and shoots for salads. The younger leaves are used in salads while the more mature leaves are used as a veggie in cooking. Cook in water and drain then saute with garlic and butter and other leafy ingredients. Add to pasta or as a side dish to meat.

FLOWERS- these can be made into a jam. The buds can be pickled.

STEMS- when tender, boil and add to salads.

MEDICINAL- Leaves, when bruised, can be used as a poultice for swelling and inflammations such as pimples, eczema, acne and other skin spots.

NUTRITIONAL- Vitamins A, C, E & K, Calcium, Copper, Thiamine, Niacin, Iron, Phosphorus, Sodium, Riboflavin, Magnesium (leaves). is a good source for inulin, one of the major prebiotics (non-digestible food ingredients that stimulate the growth of bacteria in the digestive system).

MAGICAL (from Scott Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs)

Chicory is used to remove all obstacles that might crop up in your life. It is carried for this purpose.

At one time it was thought to make its possessor invisible and to open locked boxed and doors if held against the locks. But for these last 2 purposes it must be gathered with a gold knife in perfect silence at noon or midnight on Midsummer.

If you anoint you body with chicory juice, you will obtain great favors from great person. It is also carried to promote frugality.

Gender- Masculine
Planet- Sun
Element- Air

From time to time I will be posting information on various plants, herbs, etc. As with anything taken medicinally, you should contact your doctor first to make sure it is safe for you.
If you think you have allergy to any of the herbs, plants, etc that I talk about you should stop using it immediately and contact your doctor.
If you are eating anything that you are picking or harvesting yourself make sure that you are properly identifying the plant. Many plants look very similar and are hard to identify. Make sure that you are not eating plants that are growing by the side of the road (car exhaust and road dust is not healthy), near a swimming pool (chlorine can splash onto the plants), where you think an animal has defecated or urinated or anywhere else that is subject to fertilizers, weed killers or any other chemicals.

Seed Sharing

Seed Sharing Project:
We have been playing with the ideas of starting a seed sharing program. This program will allow us to grow and share seeds for the garden and container gardens. This will help with those who are having issues with getting the fresh veggies and fruit they need.
If you have a garden and collect seeds from the things you grow would you be interested in sharing with others? We can even start a Seasonal Sign up of those who have seeds and for those who need them. Let us know what you think about this and how you think it should be run.
A suggestion was to set it up as a pen pal type list. Another was that everyone sends there seeds to one place they get split up and shared to those who signed up for the list.
Types of seeds:

• Veggies 
• Fruit
• Kitchen Herbs (not the illegal types). 

We would need help with posting if everyone decides to do the one spot divide and ship method. We personally think maybe the Pen Pal method would work out better. We will have a poll in a few days to determine the best method. We still want to here from you on this idea feel free to e-mail us or you can replay your suggestions to this post.

Harvest Prep: Tomato Sauce

Need an idea for all those tomatoes you just harvested and still harvesting? How about Sauce for your posta. The following is also guidelines on how to Dehydrate your sauce for long shelf life.

All Purpose Tomato Sauce


Wash and core 15 lbs. of ripe tomatoes (Chop in a blender)
Chop or grind:
4 large green peppers
3 large onions
3 large carrots
2 garlic cloves
1 jar pimentos

Mix all ingredients together, then blend in portions until smooth. Press through a strainer to remove any pulp.

In a very large kettle (12 qt. or larger) or 2 smaller kettles (6 qts.) bring mixture to a boil over medium heat. Boil gently, uncoverd for about 5 hours. Stir often to prevent scorching. Mixture should be thick enough to mound on a spoon. Ladle onto "five" Fruit Roll Sheets. Place in your Dehydrator on dehydrator trays. Dry at 140°F until crisp. Powder in blender.
(Tomato leathers can be powdered and used as instant soup, sauces and paste.)

Add different amounts of water to make:

Tomato Paste = 1 tsp. powder, 1 tsp. water
Tomato Sauce = 1 tsp. powder, 3 tsp. water
Tomato Soup = 1 tsp. powder, 1 tsp. water, 2 tsp. cream
Tomato Juice = 1 tsp. powder, 1/2 cup water
Adjust amount of water to taste for soup and juice

Inanna and Enlil

Inanna is the Queen of the Heavens, Mother Goddess, Goddess of the Earth, love, grain, date-palm, battle, weaving and wine.

The pure torch that flares in the sky,
The heavenly light shining bright like the day
The Great Queen of Heaven, Inanna, I will hail...
Of Her majesty, of Her greatness, of her exceeding dignity
Of Her brilliant coming forth in the evening sky,
Of Her flaring in the sky - a pure torch -
Of Her standing in the sky like the sun and moon,
Known by all lands from the south and north
Of the greatness of the holy heaven
To the Lady I will sing.

Enlil is the god or air, wind and storms, father of the gods; king of heaven & earth. In the Sumerian cosmology he was born of the union of - heaven and Ki- earth. These he separated, and he carried off the earth as his portion. In later times he supplanted Anu as chief god. His consort is Ninlil with whom he has five children: Nanna, Nerigal, Ningirsu, Ninurta, and Nisaba.

(From http://www.whiterosesgarden.com/book_of_shadows/other_books/historical_BOS/prayer_to_inanna.htm; Farrar's The Witch's Goddess and http://www.pantheon.org/articles/e/enlil.html)

Animal Magick- Blackbird

Blackbird

Keynote: Understanding of the Energies of Mother Nature
Cycle of Power: Summer

The blackbird has long been associated with omens and mysticism. Its color, alone, has evoked both fear and promise. Although call a blackbird, only the males are black. Females usually have a streaky brown plumage.

Not all blackbirds are black. One variety has a yellow head and throat which stands out strongly against the black plumage. The yellow and black coloring has long been associated with the Archangel Auriel or Uriel. Auriel is considered the tallest of the angels, with eyes than can see across eternity. This being oversees all of nature and all of the nature spirits. Auriel has traditionally been associated with the summer season.

Another variation of the blackbird is the Red-Winged Blackbird. This bird has a red path on its wings, with a dash of yellow as well. These colors connect this bird to the level known as Binah in the Qabalistic Tree of Life. This is the level associated with the Dark Mother and the primal feminine energies. This bird has ties to all of the creative forces of nature.

On the Tree of Life, black is the color for Binah and red is the color for Geburah (Mars type of energy). Yellow or amber is the color of the path of Cancer, the mother sign of the zodiac. The Red Winged Blackbird is thus a totem associated with the stellar energies of Cancer.

The male Red Winged Blackbird will lose its luster during the Winter. This reflects how the summer is the time of vibrancy and vitality for those with this bird as a totem. It indicates the need to use the Winter to go back into the great womb of life in order to be able to bring forth new energy and expressions of energy the following Summer.

Blackbirds nest in swamps, marshes and low brush-- usually just a few feet from water. Again this reflects a tie to water, an ancient symbol for the feminine force and for Nature. They often use cattails as perches. A study of the herbal qualities and characteristics of cattail will also provide further insight.

Blackbirds are known for fiercely staking out their own territory, and they will often drive off any other of their kind that are in the vicinity. Because of this, the sight of 2 blackbirds sitting together is often considered a good omen. In Europe, Blackbirds came to be associated with St. Kevin, and one story tells of how they nested in his hand. Again because of this association, to have Blackbirds nesting in your environment is usually a beneficial sign. St. Kevin was known as a person of tremendous gentleness and love.

Europeans used to eat blackbirds in a pie, as reflected in the nursery rhyme. Most of the time though, live Blackbirds were hidden in empty pie shells to provide amusement at gatherings. If the Blackbird has come into your life as a totem, you will open to new surprises and to a new understanding of the forces of Nature as they being to migrate into your life.

From Ted Andrews’ Animal Speak

The Element of Air

This is the beginning of a 4 part series about the Elements Air, Fire, Water and Earth.

The Elements can be found in us, in the physical as well as spiritual; the visible as well as the invisible. They also act as Guardians between this world and the next as well as Guardians of the God and Goddess. As we spin our circle round, we call them in to act as protectors and witnesses of the rites we work therein.

Air, Fire, Water and Earth are a part of us everyday. We breathe in and out the Air around us every moment of our lives. It blows us clean as we stand in the fields, arms outstretched in supplication. We have, for all eternity, used Fire to warm our weary bones and it is this fire, this electricity within us that sends the impulses to and through our brains for love and memory and pain. We leap these bonfires of life at our Sabbats; our Holy Festivals. Water makes up most of our body weight and without it, we would die. We need its moist, cool essence to cleanse us for our Rites. The Earth, our Mother, our home. We would be nowhere without here. That “pale blue dot” as Carl Sagan calls her, is our home, our bond and our Mother. We would not exist were it not for the Earth.
In truth, we would not exist if even one of these four Elements were missing. We need them to protect us in our mundane lives as well as our spiritual ones. Without them we would only be stardust.

The meanings of most of the elemental correspondences are easy enough to understand. There are a few that may need a little explanation. If you have been around Wicca long enough or if you have studied anything related to Western esoteric mysticism, most if not all of these terms will be familiar to you.

Bija- The term literally means seed and is used as a metaphor for the origin or cause of things. According to the Yogacara school of Buddhism, all experiences and actions produce Bija as impressions stored in the consciousness. The external world is produced when the seeds "perfume" this consciousness. This idea of Bija has been likened to memes (as genes transmit biological information, memes can be said to transmit ideas and belief information).

Buddhist Mantra- A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that are considered capable of creating spiritual transformation.

Cities of Danaan- The four great cities from which the Tuatha de Danaans were said to have sprung.

Goetia- This refers to a practice which includes the invocation of angels or the evocation of demons.

Dialectic Process- is a method of argument, which has been central to both Indic and European philosophy since ancient times. Dialectic is based on a dialogue between two or more people who may hold opposing views, yet wish to seek the truth of the matter through the exchange of their viewpoints while applying reason.

Enochian- is a name often applied to an angelic language recorded in the private journals of John Dee, a noted English occultist and consultant to Queen Elizabeth I. He devoted much of his life to the study of alchemy, divination, and Hermetic philosophy. He claimed that it was revealed to him by angels. There are those that consider it to be completely fabricated, albeit viable for magical workings. There are others who consider it to be a poor copy of another ancient language.

Ogham- This is the Celtic or Druidic tree alphabet of twenty five letters grouped in to five different groups or Acime’s or Aicme’s. Each Acime’s or Aicme’s is named after its first letter.

Tattwa- The term tattwas means realities or states of being and they are the primal energies that underlie the elements of Hindu philosophy.

Tetramorph/Kerub - This is a symbolic arrangement of the four different elements the form of three animals and a man and also a representation of the four biblical characters of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Qabalah- This is a mystical tradition that is the underlying philosophy for magical societies such as the Golden Dawn, and is a precursor to the Neopagan, Wiccan and New Age movements.

Sephiroth- The ten attributes that God created through which He can manifest. Arranged on the Qabalistic Tree of Life from bottom (earthly manifestation) to top (spiritual manifestation) they are: 10- Malkuth, 9- Yesod, 8- Hod, 7- Netzach, 6- Tiphareth, 5- Geburah, 4-Chesed, 3- Binah, 2- Chokmah and 1- Kether. Each one, beginning with Malkuth and ending in Kether is spherical step up the ladder to become one with Divinity.

AIR- To Know

Affirmation- I am intelligent.

Age of Man- birth

Alchemical Element Equivalent- Azoth

Alchemical Metal- mercury

Angelic Elemental Ruler- Chassan

Animals- eagle, hawk, all birds, winged angels, flying insects, spiders, dove

Animal World Totems- Flying Creatures, wolf, eagle, hawk, deer, cats, most day birds, horses, butterflies; air, creativity, illuminator.

Archangel- Raphael

Basic Nature- Flying, Moving, Fresh, Intelligent, Suspending

Bija- Yam (Yaungg)

Bodily Liquids- phlegm

Body Organs- heart, kidneys

Buddha Mantra- Tam

Celtic Name or Compass Point- Airt

Chakra- heart

Characteristics- transparent, light, reflective, insulator, compressible and expandable, moveable, mutable, malleable, male, penetrating mediator, reacts to energy, carries fire, flying, moving, fresh, intelligent, suspending; air manifests itself through sound, thought, communication, travel, intellect, abstract thinking, teaching, divination, freedom, joy, laughter, beginnings, communicates, strives, cuts, disperses.

Chemical Element- oxygen

Color- yellow (shamanic), blue (ceremonial)

Consciousness- intelligence

Creation Gods- Sky Father

Creative Process- development

Days of the week- Wednesday

Death Rites- desiccation

Demon King of the Goetia- Orions Amaymon

Demon Prince- Æazel (Azazel)

Dialectic Process- synthesis, integration

Dimensions- analytical

Direction- East

Direction of View- outward

Divine Names- Shaddai El Chai (almighty living God)

Druidic Tools- wand or staff

Eastern Polarity- yang

Egyptian King- Ameshet (young man)

Egyptian Son- Tuametef: Horus’s jackal-headed son

Elemental Being- sylphs, zephyrs and fairies that inhabit the world of trees, flowers, winds, breezes, mountains

Elemental King- Paralda

Elemental Ruler- Ariel

Energy Type- projective

Energy Flow- crown down

Enochian Divine Name- OROIBAHAOZPI

Enochian Elemental King- TAHOELOJ

Enochian Worlds- EXARP

Evangelists- Matthew

Familial Aspect- son

Feeling- cool and fresh, free

Gender- masculine, projective

Gods- Enlil, Hermes, Khephera, Mercury, Quetzacoatl, Shu, Taliesin, Thoth, Vayu, Zeus.

Goddesses- Aditi, Aradia, Arianrhod, Athena, Cardea, Danu, Isis, Kwan Yin, Nike, Nuit, Urania. Maiden.

Hand- index finger

Hebrew Letters- Vau

Hebrew Name- Ruach: means wind, breath, mind, spirit

Human Elements- mental, mind

Image- billowing clouds, sky, feathers, wind, breath, smoke, vibration

Incense- sandalwood, galbanum, mellow
4 pts rosemary
2 pts mugwort
1 pt chicory
½ pt coffee bean

Influences- Earth, Dreams, Guilt, Overeating, Studying, Travel, Instruction, Freedom, Knowledge, Recovering lost objects, Inspiration, Hearing, Communication, Harmony, Herbal knowledge, Plant growth, Intellect, Thought, Ideas, Revealing the truth, Overcoming addictions, Movement, Psychic abilities, Conscious mind, Meditation, Teaching

Judiciary Process- science

Jungian Functions- thinking, thought

Kitchen- steam rising from hot food

Latin- Aer

Levels of Understanding- deductive, logical

Magical Action- to dare

Magical Process- imagination

Metals- mercury, aluminum, tin, copper

Methods- allegorical

Mineral World Totems- crystals of inspiration, stones for meditation, philosophical
Energizers for meditation, highly illuminating messengers.

Moon Phase- New

Musical Instruments- Flute, All Wind Instruments

Mythological Beings: gryphons, gremlins, Pegasus

Natural Symbols- Feathers, Incense smoke, Fragrant flowers

Nature- wind

Negative Characteristics- gossipy, boastful, spendthrift, untruthful, selfish, fickle, muddy thinking, slow, inability to communicate, inattentive, chatterbox, shallow, or over-Intellectualization, memory problems

Norse Dwarf- Sudhri (when in south)
Ogham- Acime Huatha

Oils- Almond, Anise, Bergamont, Clary Sage, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Lavender, Lemongrass, Marjoram, Melissa, Niaouli, Peppermint, Pine, Sage, Spearmint

Part of Person- mind

Personality Types- excitable, passionate, optimistic

Physical Action- thinking

Physical Properties- vaporous gas

Physical State- gas

Place on Pentagram- upper left

Places- Mountaintops, Wind-swept plains, Cloudy skies, High towers, Airports, Schools, Libraries, Offices, Travel agencies, Psychiatrist's offices

Plane- mental

Plant World Totems- aspen trees; Meditative Incense: lavender, sage, marjoram, mint, cloves, mace, lemon, verbena, lemongrass; air rooted plants: philodendron, some ivy. Dark leafy vegetables; dandelion, wildflowers, milkweed, most trees.

Planets- Neptune, Mercury, Jupiter

Plants/Herbs/Trees- acacia, alder, anise, aspen, ball moss, birch, cedar elm, frankincense, lavender, lemon grass, mimosa, mistletoe, myrrh, pansy, primrose, vervain, violet, Yarrow- Fragrant, Pungent, Airy

Point in Life- Infancy

Positive Characteristics- joyful, humorous, communicative, intelligent, intuitive, diligent, mind, psychic abilities

Posture- arms raised parallel

Professional Status- nobility, military service, scientist, politician, lawyer

Ritual Work: astral travel, communication, dawn, divination, elemental magic, finding lost things, freedom, harmony, hearing, herbal, ideas, inspiration, intellect, knowledge, memory, movement, plant growth, psychic abilities, Spring, study, sunrise, telepathy, test taking, thought, travel, revealing the truth, visualization. Sunrise, Spring, Knowledge, Herbal Knowledge, Tossing objects into the air, Suspending tools in high places, Fanning light objects, Positive thinking, Concentration, Wind

Rules- the mind, all mental, intuitive and psychic work, knowledge, abstract learning, theory, windswept hills, plains, windy beaches, high mountain peaks, high towers, wind and breath.

Runes- Ansuz, Raidho, Eihwaz, Tiwaz

Qabalistic Action- movement

Qabalistic Sephiroth- Yesod/Foundation, Tiphareth/Beauty

Qabalistic Words- Yetzirah: the World of Formation

Quality- healing

Season- Spring

Sense- smell, hearing

Shamanic East- Here springs the light and where the Morning Star lives to give men wisdom.
Robe- yellow
Your Relatives- the Elk Nation, Black Elk, Elk Nation Woman that brings joy &
Happiness.
Sacred Pipe & daybreak star; 4 sorrels.

Sounds- flute

Spiritual Aspect- enlightenment

State of Matter- gas

Stones- amethyst, aventurine, carnelian, chalcedony, citrine, fluorite, jasper, lapis lazuli, mica, pumice, sapphire, topaz

Symbol of Kali- scepter, dorje

Tarot Court Cards- Kings

Tarot Suit- wands

Tarot Trumps- The Fool

Tattwa Sanskrit Names- Vayu

Tattwa Shapes- blue circle

Tattwa Time- June 21- September 23

Temperaments- sanguine

Temperate Qualities- hot and moist, light and active

Tetramorph/Kerub- man- Matthew

Tibetan Direction- North

Tibetan Failing- envy, greed

Tibetan Symbolic Animal- Garuda Bird: a mythological bird of Buddhist culture usually described as having a human form with the head of a bird.

Time- dawn

Tools- Wand, staff, feather, pen, broom, scourge, incense, censer, oaken
symbol creative visualization, feather fan, (Some traditions align the
Athame and Sword with Air but most Celtic traditions align them with Fire).

Tuatha- Spear of Destiny (Lugh, Oak-Wand) from the Otherworld
City of Danaan- Finias
Godform- Esras
Yellow- active
White- passive
Force- Intellect of Air
Invocation- “Tuatha! Tuatha! Esras to light!
Spear of Destiny, Eastern Might!
Grant intellect amid the fight!”

Vices- impulsive, frivolous, boasting, thoughtless, judgment, critical, gullible

Virtues- intelligence, practicality, joy, logic, justice, discrimination

Welsh Faerie- Raven’s Feather

Wind Spirit- Eurus, A handsome youth

Word of Power- YOD-EH-VAV-HE

Zodiac- Libra (beginnings), Aquarius (fixed), Gemini (mutable, changing)

The Elements have always fascinated me. They were the first things I studied when I started on my path and I have continued to study and research them for the past 22 years and these is the culmination of that research. Fire, Water and Earth are to follow in the coming weeks. Blessings on you all.